Impact Of Key Events Research Articles

Global revolutionary currents, the Vietnamese revolution, and the origins of the American War

This paper considers the impact of key events in the Third World (Africa, Asia, and Latin America) on Vietnamese communist strategic thinking during the early 1960s. Committed as they were to the reunification of their state, Hanoi leaders were devoted internationalists at heart who conditioned their domestic and foreign policies on the basis of global ‘currents’ and the worldwide ‘balance of forces.’ Socialist internationalism, ‘world revolution,’ and ‘Third Worldism’ (tiermondisme) were not mere catch phrases to them; they were noble causes they intended to serve and support. Contrary to popular belief, Hanoi’s communist leadership never thought strictly in terms of its own interests narrowly defined. As a proud member of the socialist camp, it also sought to ingratiate itself with other circles to gain wider legitimacy and support for its agenda. To that end, it championed national liberation causes throughout the world, becoming over time one of the loudest and most recognizable voices advocating on behalf of ‘oppressed’ masses everywhere.

Insights into the impact and use of research results in a residential long-term care facility: a case study

BackgroundEngaging end-users of research in the process of disseminating findings may increase the relevance of findings and their impact for users. We report findings from a case study that explored how involvement with the Translating Research in Elder Care (TREC) study influenced management and staff at one of 36 TREC facilities. We conducted the study at ‘Restwood’ (pseudonym) nursing home because the Director of Care engaged actively in the study and TREC data showed that this site differed on some areas from other nursing homes in the province. The aims of the case study were two-fold: to gain a better understanding of how frontline staff engage with the research process, and to gain a better understanding of how to share more detailed research results with management.MethodsWe developed an Expanded Feedback Report for use during this study. In it, we presented survey results that compared Restwood to the best performing site on all variables and participating sites in the province. Data were collected regarding the Expanded Feedback Report through interviews with management. Data from staff were collected through interviews and observation. We used content analysis to derive themes to describe key aspects related to the study aims.ResultsWe observed the importance of understanding organizational routines and the impact of key events in the facility’s environment. We gleaned additional information that validated findings from prior feedback mechanisms within TREC. Another predominant theme was the sense that the opportunity to engage in a research process was reaffirming for staff (particularly healthcare aides)—what they did and said mattered, and TREC provided a means of having one’s voice heard. We gained valuable insight from the Director of Care about how to structure and format more detailed findings to assist with interpretation and use of results.ConclusionsFour themes emerged regarding staff engagement with the research process: sharing feedback reports from the TREC study; the meaning of TREC to staff; understanding organizational context; and using the study feedback for improvement at Restwood. This study has lessons for researchers on how to share research results with study participants, including management.

The Impact of Key Events on the Presentation of Reality

Based on the theoretical distinction between genuine, mediated and staged events, the causes and consequences of waves of news coverage are analysed. It is assumed that key events change the criteria for the selection of news and stimulate new activities which in turn get covered by the media. It is further assumed that, as a consequence, the news coverage creates the false impression of an increasing number of genuine events — occurrences which by definition cannot be influenced by media coverage — even if their actual number remains unchanged. This is due to the fact that the media report more often on past events, give new events more coverage and make both appear very similar to the key event. The theoretical assumptions are analysed with respect to coverage on AIDS, earthquakes and truck accidents before and after three key events.